10/26/2026
🧀🍞 Italian Herbs and Cheese Sourdough Bread🌾 🍞
Rustic, Cheesy Sourdough with Aromatic Italian Herbs
🍴 Ingredients
🌾 450 g bread flour
💧 300 g water, room temperature
🍞 100 g active sourdough starter, bubbly and recently fed
🧂 10 g salt
🧀 150 g cheese, cubed or grated (cheddar, mozzarella, or a combination)
🌿 2 teaspoons Italian herb blend
📋 Directions
1️⃣ Mix the dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour and water until no dry flour remains. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
2️⃣ Add the starter and salt. Add the active sourdough starter and salt to the dough. Mix thoroughly by hand until everything is well incorporated.
3️⃣ Add the Italian herbs. Sprinkle the Italian herb blend over the dough and gently knead or fold it in until evenly distributed.
4️⃣ Begin bulk fermentation. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 4-6 hours, depending on your kitchen temperature and starter activity. During the first 2 hours, perform 3-4 sets of stretch-and-folds at 30-minute intervals.
5️⃣ Incorporate the cheese. During the first or second stretch-and-fold, gently work the cubed or grated cheese into the dough. If using large cubes, distribute them evenly to create pockets of melted cheese throughout the loaf.
6️⃣ Check the dough. Allow the dough to continue fermenting until it looks puffier, has visible air bubbles, and has increased in volume by approximately 50-75%. Fermentation time will vary with room temperature and starter strength.
7️⃣ Shape the loaf. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape it into a tight round or oval loaf, being careful not to press out all the air.
8️⃣ Proof the dough. Place the shaped dough seam-side up in a floured proofing basket or a bowl lined with a floured kitchen towel. Cover and refrigerate for 8-14 hours for a deeper flavor and easier scoring.
9️⃣ Preheat the oven. Place a Dutch oven with its lid inside the oven and preheat to 475°F (245°C) for at least 30 minutes.
🔟 Score and bake. Carefully transfer the cold dough onto parchment paper, score the top with a sharp blade, and lower it into the hot Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 25 minutes.
1️⃣1️⃣ Finish baking. Remove the lid, reduce the oven temperature to 450°F (230°C), and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the crust is deep golden brown and crisp.
1️⃣2️⃣ Cool before slicing. Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let it cool for at least 2 hours before slicing. This helps the crumb set and prevents the cheese-filled interior from becoming gummy.
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cooking Time: 40-45 minutes | Total Time: 13-20 hours, including fermentation and proofing | Kcal: 190 per slice, depending on the cheese and slice size | Servings: 12 slices